Choosing the right auto body shop for collision repair can save you a significant amount of money. Before you agree to have your car serviced by an auto body repair specialist, you should ask the shop some questions to find out if they are the best shop to work on your car. Here are some of the best questions to ask your auto body repair specialist:

Do You Offer a Written Warranty?

A surprising number of auto body repair specialists do not offer a warranty. If you want the best peace of mind, make sure that you go with a specialist that offers a written lifetime warranty on all repairs.

Does Your Shop Offer Cutting-Edge Dent Repair?

If you have a dent or a ding in your car and you don’t want to pay a fortune to have it repaired, find a shop that offers paintless dent repair (PDR). A specialist that performs PDR can have your car looking like new again in a matter of hours, and for a fraction of the cost of a traditional repair.

How Long Have You Been In Business?

An auto body repair shop with at least ten years of experience is good, but a shop with twenty or more years or more is better. Ask or find out how long the shop has been in business, and make sure that they have a business license to back it up.

What Car Parts and Equipment Do You Install?

Many auto body repair shops attempt to cut costs by installing cheap, low-quality aftermarket parts. Unlike genuine parts, aftermarket parts have not been designed or tested by the manufacturer. For optimal reliability, always opt for a collision repair with genuine parts.

If you live in the San Jose area, Michael J’s Body Shop is the best place to go for auto body repair. We have over twenty years of experience, and are open Monday through Saturday. Call us at (408) 279-2070 or check out our website to learn more about our auto body and collision repair services.

A collision can easily occur whenever a car is incorrectly parked on a hill, so it is important to understand how to properly secure your vehicle when you are parked facing up or down on a hill. Watch this video clip to find out how to park on a hill so that it doesn’t pose a threat to others.

When you park on a hill, think about where your car would go if the brakes holding your car were to fail. If your car would go towards the curb, then it’s parked safely. If it would go into the street, then you need to turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction. When parking uphill, remember to turn the steering wheel toward the street. When parking downhill, turn your steering wheel away from the street. For more parking tips, watch the video.

If your car has been damaged from a parking collision, visit Michael J’s Body Shop of San Jose. Call us at (408) 279-2070 for more information, and check out our website to learn about our collision repair services offered at our state-of-the-art body shops in Southern California.

Your vehicle’s resale value largely depends on how well the interior, exterior, and powertrain have been taken care of. Thankfully, you can retain your vehicle’s value if you maintain your vehicle and promptly repair any auto body damage . Read the following article for more tips on how to retain your vehicle’s resale value.

Keep it Clean

In addition to washing your car, you should wax your car’s paint once per month to protect your paint and give it a glossy, new appearance. Vacuum your car’s upholstery and carpet once per week, and pass a damp cloth over the seats and the dashboard to absorb debris and oils that will wear out the interior overtime.

Repair Minor Damages

If your car is dinged by a shopping cart or receives a dent from a foul ball, go to your local auto body repair shop to have it fixed. You should not attempt to sell your car if it has dents in it, so you might as well repair dents and dings as they occur, rather than riding around in a dented car and fixing it right before you sell it.

Seek Collision Repairs at a Respectable Collision Repair Shop

If you are ever in a fender bender, you can retain your vehicle’s resale value by getting it repaired at a collision repair shop. Be sure to go with a collision repair shop that installs genuine parts. Unlike aftermarket parts, genuine parts have been built and tested by the manufacturer.

Keep Up With Maintenance

Maintaining your vehicle regularly is another great way to bolster the resale value. Go to a car repair shop every 3,000 to 5,000 miles for an oil change and an inspection to see if your car needs other basic maintenance services. In addition to increasing your vehicle’s value, this will also make your vehicle more reliable and efficient.

If you have been in a collision or your car has incurred minor dents or dings, call Michael J’s Body Shop at (408) 279-2070. Visit our website today to learn more about our full-service collision repair services, and contact us online if you have any specific questions for the experienced technicians in our body shop.

At Michael J’s Body Shop, we pride ourselves on offering our customers the best possible service when they choose us as their auto body shop. Our technicians go above and beyond to ensure that our customer service will exceed your expectations. We offer our customers a written lifetime warranty on all of our collision repairs, extended business hours, fast and efficient service, and competitive prices. To make your experience as effortless as possible, we also offer free pick-up and rental car assistance, so you can go about your life while we are working on your car.

To learn more about why customers are raving about the fantastic service they have received from Michael J’s Body Shop, call us at (408) 279-2070. We offer two convenient locations in the Bay Area and San Jose that can take care of all of your collision repair and auto body needs. Contact us today to make an appointment.